US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media as he departs the White House en route to South Carolina, in Washington, DC, US, October 21, 2026. Reuters/Kevin Lamarque
President Donald Trump lashed out at CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on Wednesday, calling her a “dummy” and a “low-IQ person” during a tense exchange over his administration’s handling of Russia.
The confrontation erupted as Trump defended his decision not to impose additional sanctions on Moscow while his administration pursues negotiations over the war in Ukraine.
“We are maybe close to a deal for the first time in a long time,” Trump said. “When you’re close to a deal, and you have very delicate negotiations, you don’t put sanctions on.”
But when Collins pressed him about whether he had lifted sanctions in exchange for a prisoner’s release, Trump abruptly turned hostile.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re a low-IQ person. You’re a dummy, and you work for CNN,” Trump snapped.
“But that’s what you said,” Collins said as she pushed back. Trump moments earlier also accused the reporter of knowing nothing and called CNN “fake news.”
The president then launched into a lengthy explanation about negotiations to secure the release of an American prisoner held in Russia, arguing that imposing sanctions could derail such efforts.
“The negotiation would obviously come immediately to an end,” Trump said Wednesday.
“So use your head.”
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